Toby Sumpter offers some sage
gospel-coloured counsel. Here are a few tasters:
First, as a Bible
believing Christian, I happen to believe that in a more Christian society, the
death penalty would be promptly administered for the worst of these predators.
--
Jesus commands us
to forgive anyone, anytime (Mt. 18:21-22). But forgiveness doesn’t invite the
repentant drunkard out to the pub for a celebratory drink. Forgiveness doesn’t
allow the pilfering pastor to continue mounting the pulpit, no matter how misty
his eyes or trembling his voice. Forgiveness doesn’t smile and nod when the
repentant porn addict says he’ll be searching Google till three am, but don’t
worry he’s forgiven.
--
Forgiveness releases the debt for the sake of Jesus’
blood, but depending on the offense, forgiveness is also often a certain level
of commitment to love the repentant brother/sister back to faithfulness.
Forgiveness doesn’t hold sin against the sinner, but forgiveness doesn’t
pretend there is nothing to watch out for, nothing to guard against.
--
The Church, because we are
committed to repentance, should be a place where there is free
forgiveness and lots
of barbed wire cheerfully and lovingly strung up around the pits and ditches
for those repenting of entrenched sin. And it is the wise combination of this
forgiveness and accountability that is the means to rebuilding true trust.
Read the full thing here.
